Charnelle’s story:
How Breast Cancer Foundation NZ’s nurses helped to make her feel in control of treatment
Video transcript
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in December in 2023.
It was a regular day. I was shopping at PAK’nSAVE and came across the Pink Ribbon Street Appeal.
I made a donation and was given a pink ribbon and a little card which outlined symptoms of breast cancer. After reading that card, I felt like I had a few of those symptoms.
It took a couple of days for me to build up the courage to make the phone call to Breast Cancer Foundation NZ.
From that phone call, as scary as it was, she was lovely, and it was easy to talk to her. The first step was to make contact with my doctor and get a referral for a scan and mammogram.
I started chemo in January and did chemo for five months. After about six, maybe eight weeks after that, I had a mastectomy of my right breast.
It’s been a full-on nine months of treatment. It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve got through it and I’ve had some really good outcomes thus far.
Throughout these nine months, I feel like I’ve been well supported by my whānau, by my friends, but even from anyone associated within the cancer sector.
In particular, Breast Cancer Foundation NZ – every two weeks I got a phone call. Every phone call was appreciated, it was reassuring. The lady I spoke to on the phone, I felt like we had a relationship, and she was a part of my journey.
Those phone calls were, in some sense, another lifeline for me. Where I didn’t have to rely on and put everything on my whānau.
It’s quite daunting going to chemotherapy and walking in the room or sitting in front of the doctor or these other specialists. So any information I got, I was able to use it to ask questions, to have a say within my plan.
I think it is important to donate to Breast Cancer Foundation NZ. Personally, it is appreciated. On this journey it’s all that extra support that makes a difference mentally and physically.
Speaking from my own preference, it’s such a relief if I’m being honest, the extra support given. If you are watching this, I am a recipient of those donations, and it helps.
It’s a hard knacker or a hard road to go on, fighting any type of cancer. So to anyone who has given any donations, thank you, it’s appreciated.
Video transcript
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in December in 2023.
It was a regular day. I was shopping at PAK’nSAVE and came across the Pink Ribbon Street Appeal.
I made a donation and was given a pink ribbon and a little card which outlined symptoms of breast cancer. After reading that card, I felt like I had a few of those symptoms.
It took a couple of days for me to build up the courage to make the phone call to Breast Cancer Foundation NZ.
From that phone call, as scary as it was, she was lovely, and it was easy to talk to her. The first step was to make contact with my doctor and get a referral for a scan and mammogram.
I started chemo in January and did chemo for five months. After about six, maybe eight weeks after that, I had a mastectomy of my right breast.
It’s been a full-on nine months of treatment. It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve got through it and I’ve had some really good outcomes thus far.
Throughout these nine months, I feel like I’ve been well supported by my whānau, by my friends, but even from anyone associated within the cancer sector.
In particular, Breast Cancer Foundation NZ – every two weeks I got a phone call. Every phone call was appreciated, it was reassuring. The lady I spoke to on the phone, I felt like we had a relationship, and she was a part of my journey.
Those phone calls were, in some sense, another lifeline for me. Where I didn’t have to rely on and put everything on my whānau.
It’s quite daunting going to chemotherapy and walking in the room or sitting in front of the doctor or these other specialists. So any information I got, I was able to use it to ask questions, to have a say within my plan.
I think it is important to donate to Breast Cancer Foundation NZ. Personally, it is appreciated. On this journey it’s all that extra support that makes a difference mentally and physically.
Speaking from my own preference, it’s such a relief if I’m being honest, the extra support given. If you are watching this, I am a recipient of those donations, and it helps.
It’s a hard knacker or a hard road to go on, fighting any type of cancer. So to anyone who has given any donations, thank you, it’s appreciated.
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